(AP) A federal judge ruled Wednesday that
government investigators illegally wiretapped the phone conversations
of an Islamic charity and two American lawyers without a search warrant.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said the plaintiffs have
provided enough evidence to show "they were subjected to warrantless
electronic surveillance."

At issue was a 2006 lawsuit challenging the so-called Terrorist
Surveillance Program of President George W. Bush's administration.

The lawsuit was filed by the Ashland, Oregon, branch of the
Saudi-based Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation and two American lawyers
Wendell Belew and Asim Ghafoor.

Belew and Ghafoor claimed their 2004 phone conversation with a
foundation official, Soliman al-Buthi, was wiretapped soon after the
Treasury Department had declared the charity branch a supporter of
terrorism.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said the lawsuit threatens to
expose ongoing intelligence work and must be thrown out.

In making the argument, the administration of President Barack Obama
agreed with the Bush administration's position on the case but insists
it came to the decision differently.

Holder's effort to stop the lawsuit marks the first time the
administration has tried to invoke the state secrets privilege.

Under the strategy, the government can have a lawsuit dismissed if
hearing the case would jeopardize national security.

The Bush administration invoked the privilege numerous times in
lawsuits over various programs that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks.

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Another Blow Against the Republic by Leftist Judge: Wiretap of Islam Jihadist Group Illegal

(AP) A federal judge ruled Wednesday that
government investigators illegally wiretapped the phone conversations
of an Islamic charity and two American lawyers without a search warrant.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker said the plaintiffs have
provided enough evidence to show "they were subjected to warrantless
electronic surveillance."

At issue was a 2006 lawsuit challenging the so-called Terrorist
Surveillance Program of President George W. Bush's administration.

The lawsuit was filed by the Ashland, Oregon, branch of the
Saudi-based Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation and two American lawyers
Wendell Belew and Asim Ghafoor.

Belew and Ghafoor claimed their 2004 phone conversation with a
foundation official, Soliman al-Buthi, was wiretapped soon after the
Treasury Department had declared the charity branch a supporter of
terrorism.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has said the lawsuit threatens to
expose ongoing intelligence work and must be thrown out.

In making the argument, the administration of President Barack Obama
agreed with the Bush administration's position on the case but insists
it came to the decision differently.

Holder's effort to stop the lawsuit marks the first time the
administration has tried to invoke the state secrets privilege.

Under the strategy, the government can have a lawsuit dismissed if
hearing the case would jeopardize national security.

The Bush administration invoked the privilege numerous times in
lawsuits over various programs that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terror
attacks.